Personal Style Defined.

Anna Wintour

Fashion is not only about inventive clothing and rock star designers, sometimes sheer personality eclipses fashion. Lupita Nyong’o is that current personality. If you don’t know her yet, your living under a rock, especially if you follow fashion. In the film world, Nyong’o has already won their top award. And now she is receiving fashion’s most coveted award–Vogue Cover Girl.

Seems like Vogue has been pushing out controversial cover after cover, although fashion has been parsing Nyong’o for a while now,so I guess she is finally getting her recognition.

When I was 16 my friends told me I should start a blog about fashion, because I was fashion obsessed, if I had, maybe I would be a lot further in my fashion career. Anyway, enough about me. I state my past because when I was 16 another Black female fashion star had centre stage–Alex Wek. I didn’t have a blog then, so I could not comment. I allude to Wek not because I want to compare the two, but challenge fashion’s motivation about beauty.

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Women around the world have embraced Lupita for her effervescent personality, amazing acting skills, and striking use of fashion. Designers like to showcase dresses on Lupita for her flash bulb grabbing skills. What disappoints me is that the fashion community only latches to a women like Lupita when it is useful for them, or she an anointed. Example, Alek Wek. When Karl Lagerfeld used Wek in his runways shows, the rest of the community followed. Lagerfeld is not my favourite designer, but I must say he has an eye for original beauty.

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Original beauty? The beauty is original because it is outside of the norm. I would say this is a bad thing, but in some respect it highlights minorities in fashion. In my next post I will be continuing my ongoing discussion about original beauty. For now I want to say that Lupita’s photos are amazing!!! The Queen of talk herself has graced the cover of Vogue, and said it was one of her favourite fashion moments. Therefore, I must say, “Lupita enjoy your time in the spotlight, because fashion will be marching forward soon.” Good thing she has acting chops to fall back on when modelling is done.

It’s May, and spring is in the air. The flowers are blooming, fashionistas are waiting for fall collections to be released, and April’s Vogue Cover of Kim and Kanye is being used for mulch. Now that April showers have subsided and we’re all in a better mood, lets discuss what was lost in fashion’s most recent controversial moment.

Family Matters

What happened? Kim wanted to be on the cover of Vogue magazine, what girl doesn’t. For crying out loud Sarah Jessica Parker has been on more Vogue covers than she has been on any tabloid magazines. Whereas Kim has been on every tabloid cover countless times, but never Vogue. “There, there little Kim, one day.” Well the day has come and gone with little fan fare according to VP of Mag Net Data, which uses scan data from wholesalers that cover about 98 percent of the market, says the numbers are lower than anticipated.

Walk The Line

A reality star on the cover of Vogue, “NO” the Calvary claimed!!!

I have my reasons why I think Kim should have never been on the cover of Vogue, but I am not a gossip blogger. Therefore, like all good PR agents “no comment.”

Mirror Mirror

Moving forward. What we lost. Kim’s Vogue cover had to do with more than her being a reality star occupying fashion’s most coveted real estate. The bigger moment was Kanye!! An African-American man on the cover of one of fashions biggest magazines—gasp!!

Life In The fast Lane

Never has a man graced the cover of American Vogue magazine, yet Kanye stands lovingly behind his fame-obsessed soon-to-be bride to showcase his power, connections, and passion to the world. Say what you will, and you will, but Kanye has made a real name for himself. Not only in music, but fashion. His influence is boundless. He’s stayed relevant, controversial, and creative, as his predecessors have drifted away. In fashion he has been able to put brands on the map. Influencing media’s vast hip-hop world community—its not East Coast West Coast anymore. He’s fliped hip-hop uniforms into chic standards.

Mile High Club

As a fashion lover, I feel that a moment in fashion history is lost. Due to the fact an over exposed wannabe took the spot light. In years to come The Kim K Klan will be forgotten, as she will glisten into the sunset with her beautiful children. I am not a Kanye follower either, I just watch fashion, and it strikes me when something this amazing happens and we forget to stop and watch. I think the noise in fashion has become too loud. Too many celebrities grace magazines. Too many designers selling out capsule collections with middle road brands, although keep doing them; I love the connection and price. Too many wannabe fashionistas claiming style status for front row seats. What I want is a moment to say, “Ah… did that really happen.”

Fame Game

These photographs will become an iconic staple in our history as a fashion community and society. When we look back, we won’t see Kim K reality star. We will see Kanye, man of the hour in Vogue magazine, holding the women he loves, to give her a dream that was untouchable. “Now I ain’t sayin’ she’s a gold digger, but she ain’t messin’ with no broke #$#$#$” –Kanye

After years of trying to write you a letter, I thought I would put one on my blog. After watching you on the Colbert Report (Wednesday, May 9, 2012), I love you. Not only did you match wits with Stephen, you slammed his style, while supporting gay marriage. A proven professional, you never miss a beat.

What I love about Ms. Wintour is that her style is always consistent. Her signature bob haircut has become timeless, while her mid-calf length skirts, dresses, and… I don’t think I’ve seen her in pants? Her style has become synonymous with elegance, I confess: calf-length is my favourite skirt length.

Anna Wintour and Sarah Moweranna-main

Anna is one of the few magazine editors that has become, not only famous for her style and attitude, but like Simon Cowell, she has made mean cool–well, only when you know what you’re talking about. You have to love a women who knows how to state her opinion looking fabulous!

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To be on top for over 20 years, takes not only guts, or a lust for power, but true love and passion. Anna has taken the fashion world and combined it with American spending power, which has turned American Vogue into the Bible of style. Not always the most ground breaking in editorial photography, Vogue is relatable to everyone. For me, a magazine can only dominate when it is based on replication, therefore a look can be achieved by the viewer. A great example is what I call mall pop-stars. Any major artist who breaks into the pop scene must have a look that can be bought at any local mall–Britney and Madonna’s debut albums. This is what creates relatable fashion and followers.

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Vogue may give the most high-end look, but it is one that is achieved on many levels, from major fashion designers to Zara, looks can be repeated by way of emulation. This accessibility, I believe, is what has kept Wintour on top. You may not like her method or attitude, but you have to respect her dedication to fashion.

Fashion is all about discovering new talent, people, and style. NYFW is the best place and time to meet everyone. Between all the wonderful shows, I always like meeting new people, therefore understanding fashion and style a little further.

I first meet street style photographers, Wataru Shimosato and Young Jun Koo, whose style attracted my attention. The two photographers were shy to speak, but check out their blogs (I’M Koo and An Unknown Quantity) to see what wonderful people they snap around New York, even designers and the Queen of Mean, Anna Wintour, whom I love, line up to be immortalized by the photog friends.

Next up was a very well dressed woman, whose name I didn’t get, I think I was too in love with her cashmere coat to ask. This emerging fashion talent told me a little about her line and described her elegant style, of course all made by her, except, her fur collar, which was handed down by her grandma. Incorporating family history, and sentimental pieces is a great way to give your look originality and style (sorry, no photo, check out video).

Well, here she is as promised, Faustina Rose, a blog favourite. I meet this Lady Gaga look-a-like, although complete original herself (I am sure she is sick of the comparison). I wrote about her gob-smacking style a few posts back, but it took me a moment to discovery I was not speaking with a mere mortal, just check out her website. If you enjoy her style, she reveals some of her beauty secrets in our video. Ms. Rose has also been captured by our photographer friends.

After all my fashionistas, I bumped into some musical artist, Lily Halpern, whose rumoured to be dating, Harry Styles, from One Direction, England’s break-out boy band. This songstress seemed very busy during fashion week. I was a little shocked when I spotted her on E! News.

The last part of my video came with a blanket of mystery, no names, just info. I meet an RCA executive, whose wife designs hang bags, while interviewing her, she let it slip that her husband had signed a new artist. When I spoke with the mystery executive, he said I was getting a big scoop. I spoke with the new artist about her style and fashion week connection (check out video for her name).